Toy targets



June 26, 1962 s. c. BUTLER ETAL 3,

TOY TARGETS Filed June 14, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E 12 INVENTORS 40 4546 STANLEY C. BUTLER, 0 05*055 L. MA/25H 56 j, Z 21/3 fikflw A TTOEA/E Y s. c. BUTLER ETAL 3,041,074

TOY TARGETS June 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1960 INVENTORS STANLEY C. flung/F, 74 DEL 055 L. MARSH ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,041,074 TOY TARGETS Stanley C. Butler, 15272 Penn Ave, fian Lorenzo, and De Loss L. Marsh, 212 Revere Ave., Hayward, Calif. Filed June 14, 1964 'Ser. No. 36,628 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-1021) This invention pertains to new and improved toy targets.

Values in the toy industry are very difficult to determine; It is well known that certain standard toys have been used for centuries and will presumably be continued to be used by children for an indeterminable time in the future. However, the acceptability of such standard toys for commercial purposes is, at the present time, tending to be limited by a number of changes in the toy industry itself.

To a large extent these changes are a consequence of the wide adoption of television as an advertising medium. Products'which are advertised on television tend to sell comparatively rapidly and in a comparatively large volume. Because of the inherent nature of television advertising and the changes it has brought about in the sales acceptability of devices there is at the present time a very definite need for toys which present new and novel amusement effects that are capable of being visually and/or audibly observed.

Because of cost considerations there is also a very strong need in the toy field for toys which may be easily and conveniently manufactured at a comparatively nominal cost. There is also an ever present need for toys which stand up under the treatment normally accorded to them by children, and which are capable of operating satisfactorily over comparatively long periods.

A broad object of the present invention is to provide new and improved toy targets which are capable of satisfying these needs. More specific objects of the present invention are to provide toy targets which are capable of being easily and conveniently manufactured at a comparatively nominal cost, which are extremely reliable in operation, which are capable of withstanding abuse, and which provide new amusement'effects capable of'being easily observed.

These and various other objects of the invention as well as may specific advantages of it will be more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this description, including the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l'is aperspective view of a toy target of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line -22of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional'view taken at line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of certain parts of this toy target illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6' is a view similar to'Fl-G. lot the toytarget illustr'ated in the preceding figure, showing the orientation of various parts of this toy target after it has been engaged by a projectile;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 7'7 of FIG. 6; and

'FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified toy target of this invention.

Those skilled in the toy field will realize that the external appearance of "any toy is frequently changed or altered in a numberof different ways in order to meet various commercial requirements. Thus, it will be realized that the external appearances of toy'targets falling within the scope of'this'invention can be altered in virtually an intermediate number of different manners. It'will also be 3,041,074 Patented June 26, 1952 "Ice realized by thosefamiliar with the field of mechanics that various changes of a routine engineering nature may be made in the operative mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. For these reasons-these drawings-are not to be taken as limiting-this invention inevery respect.

As'an aid to understanding this invention it can be stated in essentially summary form that it concerns toy targets, each of which is formed so as to include a target surface upon which there is located a movable member; Further, with the toy targets of this invention triggering means are ilsed in conjunction with latch means and spring means so that when these triggering means are actuated as by engagement with a projectile, the spring means are released by the latch means in order to cause the movable member to move along a predetermined path with respect to the target surface. Such motion causes co-acting means on the target surface and on the movable member to produce sparks serving as a visual, attention-getting, and amusement feature. These sparks may be utilized for amusement purposes in various manners depending upon the nature of the art work employed with a toy target of this invention.

The invention is best more fully described or explained by referring directly to the accompanying drawings. In the initial figures of the drawings there is shown a complete toy target ll of this invention. This target includes a board-like'member 12 which may be referred to as a target surface because of its utilization in the complete target it). The front side 14 of this target member v12 is preferably formed so as to have an amusement getting external appearance. Thus, the front side14- as shown in the target 10 is formed to have the general appearance of a cowboy. This targetsurface includes a circular'peripheral edge 15.

Upon the rear side 16 of the target surface 12 there is located a small cylindrical housing 18 which is attached to the surface member 12 by means of rivets 20*. A small cylindrical rod 22 having a shoulder 24- formed thereon preferably extends the length of the housing 18; This rod 22 is secured in place withrespect to the target surface 12 by means of a small screw 26 extending through the member 12 from the front side 14. This screw 26 is formed so as to include a head 'ZS eXt'ending beyond the peripheral confinesof a short cylindrical shank 30.

The shank 30 rotatably supports an arm 32which, in the target 10, is an arm in botha mechanical and an appearance sense inasmuch as his formed in this target 10 so as to simulate an'arm of a'cowboy as pictured on the front side 14 The arm 32 maybe either loosely held about the shank 30 or may be somewhat flexible so as to be capable of being bent slightly away from the front side 14- of the target surface 12. As shown the arm 32 terminates in a small gun-like portion 34 which is normally hidden behind a holster' appearing element 36 secured'so as to project from the front side 14. This structure is designed so that the arm 3-2 may rotate in a predetermined path about the shank 30 when the target 10 is actuated.

Such actuation occurs when a triggering element 38 mounted upon a latch arm 40 is engaged by a projectile (not shown) so as to' move this latch arm. As indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the latch arm 40 is slidably carried in openings 42 at the housing 18 and in the target surface 12. A curved notch 44 is formed in the arm 3-2 so that this arm 32 will not engage the latch arm 40 when the arm 32 is caused to rotate.

The latch arm 40 includes a holding notch 46- and latch notch 48 as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4 ofthe'drawings; both of these notches 46 and 48 are located generally within the housing 18. Asmall coil spring 50 isdisposed around the rod 22; one eXtremity-orend-SZ of the spring 50 extends from the rod 22 so as to always be carried within the holding notch 46. The inherent resiliency of this extremity or end 52 is suflicient so as to always tend to urge the latch arm 48- in a direction toward the front side 14 of the target surface 12. The other extremity or end 54 of the spring 50 is bent to a generally hook-like shape .so as to fit around a wire arm 56. This arm 56 is rotatably mounted on the rod 22 by means of a terminal eye 58 which extends around the rod 22. This eye 58 is normally held against the shoulder 24 by the inherent resiliency of the extremity or end 54 of the spring 50. This arm 56 extends out through an opening 60 in the housing .18 and includes a bent end 62 which is secured to the gun-like portion 34 of the arm 32.

By virtue of this construction the spring 50 can be used so as to rotate the arm 32 when the triggering element 38 is engaged by a projectile. When the target is in a cocked, ready to use configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring 58 is held under compression by virtue of the arm 56 being secured within the latch notch 48 and by virtue of the fact that the extremity 52 holds the latch arm 40 so that the arm 56 is firmly engaged with the base of the latch notch 48.

When the triggering element 38 is engaged by a projectile the latch arm 40 is moved against the resiliency of the extremity 52 of the spring 50. This causes the latch arm 40 to move so that the arm 56 no longer fits within the notch 48. At this point the end 54 of the spring 50 transmits a force from this spring 50 to the arm 56 so as to cause rotation of this arm 56 until it hits against the edge of the opening 60. Thus, the edge of this opening serves as a means for limiting rotation of the arm 32. During such rotation the arm 32 is, of course, also rotated since it is attached to the arm 56 by the end 62.

As such a rotation occurs the gun-like portion 34 of the arm 32 passes over a comparatively small abrasive strip 64, such as a strip of sandpaper or the like secured to the front side 14 of the target surface 12. as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. This strip 64 is located in the general path along which the gun-like portion 34 is moved when the target 10 is actuated. As this gun-like end 34 passes over the abrasive strip 64 a small flint 66 (FIG. 7) located within a cavity 68 in this portion 34 comes into engagement with the abrasive strip 64 causing a shower of sparks to be created. This shower of sparks tends to simulate a flash as created when a normal gun is fired.

As noted in FIG. 7 of the drawings the flint 66 normally extends a short distance from the cavity 68. The term flint used here is used in a common sense so as to designate any of a wide variety of known compositions which are not flints in the geological sense, but which are capable of giving off sparks when engaged by a roughened surface. Suitable tflints are of a type commonly used in cigarette lighters and the like; the cavity 68 is, of course, shaped so as to accommodate such flints.

The arm 56 is preferably formed so as to be bowed slightly so that its end 62 in a free condition would extend away from the rear side 16 of the target surface 14. When the arm 56 is formed in this manner the inherent resiliency or spring-like character of this arm exerts a force against the portion 34 of the arm 32 which tends to force this portion toward the front side 14 of the target surface 12. As a consequence of this construction the flint 66 will always ride against the front side 14 when the arms 56 and 32' rotate, and will be held so as to always bear against the strip 64 with sufficient force so as to create sparks during such rotation. Further, the resiliency of the arm 56 will allow temporary deformation of this arm so as to open the cavity 68 from the front side 14 sufiiciently to allow access to the cavity for the purpose of changing flints if wear or other factors should make this necessary.

It is deemed preferable to utilize in conjunction with the target 10 a noise-making means such as the means 70 indicated in FIG. of the drawing so as to simulate a gun shot sound at the time sparks are emitted by movement of the flint 66 over the abrasive strip 64. A number of different known mechanisms can be used for this purpose. A suitable mechanism is the means 70 indicated in FIG. 5 of the drawing. It consists of an elongated cylin der 72, the base end of which is provided with a perforate end 74 which is pivotally attached to the rear side 16 of the target surface 12 by means of a screw 76. A conventional piston '78 is mounted within the cylinder 72 so as to be capable of being moved back and forth within this cylinder. A piston rod 88 is carried by the piston '78 and is pivotally attached to the arm 56 by an eye 82 to a similar eye 84- formed by bending the wire in the arm 56. This rod extends through a centrally located opening 86 in a cork-like member 88. A shoulder is disposed upon the piston rod 89 for the purpose of limiting movement of this cork-like member 88 and for the purpose of forcing it into an open end 92 of the cylinder '72 during the use of the target 10.

From a detailed consideration of the drawings it will be realized that when the target 10 is used and is in a cocked position as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, that the piston 7 8 is located within the cylinder 72 so as to be spaced from the cork-like member 88. When the arm 56 rotates as a consequence of the triggering element 38 being hit by a projectile this piston 78 is pulled toward the cork-like member 88, causing a buildup in air pressure between it and the cork-like member 88. When the pressure has been increased to a sufiicient extent the cork-like member 88 pops out of the end 92 giving a noise of a common pop gun variety, effectively simulating a gun shot. Preferably the various parts are formed so that such a noise is emitted at about the time sparks are created in the target 10.

After the target 10 has been actuated or used the various parts of it are in the relative position indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. In order to return the target 10 to an operative cocked condition, a child need only engage the arm 32' and rotate it back to the position indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. When this occurs the arm 56 will automatically be latched within the latch notch 48, and the projection 90 on the rod 80 will force the cork-like member 88 into the end 92 of the cylinder 72. At this point the target 10 is ready to be reused.

In order to illustrate a difl'erent manner in which the principles of this invention may be used another target of the present invention has been illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings. Since this target is essentially similar to the target 10 as far as operative parts are concerned the various operative parts of it are designated in the drawings and in this description by the primes of the numerals previously employed and are not separately described herein.

The target 100 shows that the principles of this invention will be employed in order to simulate various other uses than the action of a gun. Thus, in the target a rocket-like action is simulated. In this target 100 when a target triggering element 38 simulating the face of a cat is hit by a projectile a simulated rocket 102 held by an end of an arm 56' is caused to travel along an elongated abrasive strip 64'. Such travel occurs and sparks are produced by virtue of the use of a flint held upon the rocket 182, in the same general manner in which the flint 66 is held in position.

Because of the nature of this invention and the fact that it can be applied in a number of different ways, it is to be considered as being limited only by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

We claim:

1. A toy target which includes: a target surface having front and rear sides and a circular peripheral edge; a housing located upon the rear side of said target surface; a rod mounted so as to extend from the rear side of said target surface through said housing; a latch arm slidably mounted on said target surface and said housing, said latch arm extending from the front side of said target surface and including a latch notch formed therein; a triggering element mounted on the extremity of said latch arm located in front of said target surface; a coil spring located around said rod, one end of said spring being secured with respect to said latch arm, and being formed so as to normally urged said latch arm so that said triggering element is located away from said target surface, the other end of said spring being formed to a hooklike shape; an arm rotatably mounted on said rod, said arm extending through said housing to adjacent to the peripheral edge of said target surface, said arm being engaged by said hook-like extremity so as to be held thereby, said arm being capable of being secured to said latch arm by fitting within said latch notch; flint means secured to an extremity of said arm; abrasive means located on the front side of said target surface so as to be engaged by said flint means during rotation of said arm.

2. A toy target as defined in claim 1 and means for producing sound mounted on said target surface so as to be actuated by said arm during movement of said arm.

3. A toy target as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for producing sound is mounted so as to be actuated when said flint means engages said abrasive means.

4. A toy target which includes: a target surface having front and rear sides; a latch arm slidably mounted on said target surface, said latch arm extending from the front side of said target surface and including a latch notch formed therein, said latch notch being located at the rear side of said target surface; a triggering element mounted on the extremity of said latch arm located in front of said target surface; a rotatable arm rotatably mounted on the rear side of said target surface; spring means for urging said latch arm so that said triggering element is located away from said target surface and for holding said latch arm so that said rotatable arm is engaged in said latch notch and for rotating said rotatable arm, said spring means being capable of giving when said triggering element is engaged by a projectile so as to move said latch arm in order to release said rotatable arm from said notch and in order to rotate said rotatable arm when said rotatable arm is released from said notch; flint means secured to an extremity of said arm so as to rotate therewith; abrasive means located on said target surface so as to be engaged by said flint means during rotation of said arm.

5. A toy target as defined in claim 4 and means for producing sound mounted on said target surface so as to be actuated by said arm during movement of said arm.

6. A toy target as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for producing sound is mounted so as to be actuated when said flint means engages said abrasive means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,266,494 Lakin May 14, 1918 1,305,653 Lassalle June 3, 1919 2,113,719 Oreswell Apr. 12, 1938 2,119,572 Creswell June 7, 1938 2,613,080 Dow Oct. 7, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,041,074 Q, Iune 26, 1962 Stanley C. Bet 1e! et ail 7- It is hereby certified that errbr appears in the above numbere d pat ent requiringicorrection and that. the said Letters Pat ent should read as corrected bel ow- Column 1 line 44,- for' "may" read many column 5, line 7, for "urged" read urge y Signed and sealed this 1 5th day of January 1963.

(SEAL) Attest:

IRNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD \ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

